A new variety of apple has been released by the University of Minnesota apple breeding program. Named Kudos, this new apple will be available to the public in coming years.
The University's apple program has released several well-known apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, in its 100+ year-long history. Kudos was bred from a cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar!. Much like other varieties released by the University, including 2021's release, First Kiss (Rave outside of Minnesota), Honeycrisp is serving as a parent to the apples of the future.
David Bedford, a senior research fellow at the U of M's apple breeding program, describes the selection process as a 1 in 10,000 chance of being released. The program selects apple cultivars for disease resistance and flavor, and it can take up to 25 years for an apple to go through the many trials needed before it gets released to the public.
Minnesota's apple breeding program originally began researching cold hardy apple varieties that could withstand Minnesota's harsher climate. In a new era of warming temperatures, that may begin to change.
Read more about the new Kudos apple here.